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February 18, 2015

Film Review - The Grand Budapest Hotel by Wes Anderson

The Grand Budapest Hotel is a vestige of old world decorum and sophistication, epitomized by the legendary concierge Gustave H (Ralph
Fiennes). But when Gustave is accused of murdering Madame D (Tilda Swinton), one of the
many wealthy guests who benefit from his “exceptional service”, he must abandon the scenes of his hotel and rage through a tumultuous interwar Europe. With Zero (Tony Revolori), his faithful lobby boy, he
must prove his innocence and reveal that the real fiends are Madame D’s vile
family.

Anderson’s films always have a constructed feel, with symmetrical shots, striking colourisation and bizarre characters from an
ensemble cast. Never has this been more appropriate than in The Grand Budapest Hotel, the quirky
melange creating a theatrical world in contrast to the harsh
realities of its period setting; the stage of the hotel withstanding the invasions of the rampaging world. A loving tribute to the value of stories and memory in the face of reality.